The TV world is full of famous families – but did you know how many were connected to some of the BBC’s biggest shows?
While some of the famous connections are well known, such as Call The Midwife’s Stephen McGann’s marriage to writer Heidi Thomas, others may come as a surprise to viewers.
From Hollywood icons to famous siblings, soap legends and Doctor Who stars, the talent runs deep within the family roots – with many going on to work with their partners or follow in their family footsteps.
Here, Daily Star takes a closer look at some of the BBC stars with famous family links.
Call The Midwife Daniel Laurie and EastEnders villain
(Image: BBC/Neal Street Productions)
Call The Midwife features some of the biggest stars of TV, including actor Daniel Laurie who plays Reggie Jackson in the BBC One period drama.
After making his debut in the series back in 2017, the character has become a fan favourite – but it is not his only leading role, as Daniel has also appeared in drama series including ITV’s Vera and Finding Alice too.
It is no surprise that Daniel is a talented actor, as his father also played a memorable EastEnders villain.
(Image: BBC)
Daniel’s father is none other than Dirty Den Watts actor himself, Leslie Grantham, whose surprise return to Albert Square in 2003 not only shocked the residents – but viewers too.
The late Leslie, who died in 2018, was originally thought to be dead after being shot and falling into a river in 1989 – only for the character to turn up alive and well over 14 years later.
The Split’s Nicola Walker and Spooks star
(Image: BBC / Sister)
The third and final series of The Split aired earlier this year, starring Nicola Walker as Hannah Defoe – a family lawyer dealing with her own complex divorce.
She has also landed huge roles in TV series including Annika, Last Tango in Halifax and Unforgotten, along with crime drama Spooks.
During her time on the series, her famous actor husband appeared in the crime drama – although it has not been confirmed if this was where they first met.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Nicola’s husband is Barnaby Kay, who along with appearing in TV series including Prime Suspect and Wallander, is also a talented theatre actor.
He has starred in critically acclaimed productions including Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, among many others.
However away from the limelight, he and Nicola have been married for over twenty years and have one child together called Harry.
Doctor Who’s Sacha Dawan and Vigil star partner
(Image: BBC STUDIOS 2022,BBC Studios/James Pardon)
Doctor Who star Sacha Dawan recently delighted fans when it was revealed that he was returning for the Autumn 2022 special, which will see Jodie Whittaker’s thirteenth doctor regenerate.
Speaking about the role, he previously told The Sun: “It’s quite intimidating, because if I do come back, I need to come back with an bigger bang.”
Along with starring in BBC series Dracula and film The History Boys, Sacha’s wife is also a huge TV star too.
(Image: ITV)
Sacha’s partner Anjli Mohindra most recently appeared in hit BBC series Vigil, opposite Surranne Jones and Shaun Evans.
Three years earlier, Anjli also appeared in Bodyguard as engineer Nadia, alongside Marvel Eternals star Richard Madden and Ashes To Ashes’ Keeley Hawes.
That’s not all, as the actress also had a leading role in the ITV series Wild Bill as DCC Lydia Price, alongside Hollywood actor Rob Lowe.
Call The Midwife Megan Cusack’s Hollywood link and Heartbeat icon
(Image: BBC / Nealstreet Productions / Laura Radford)
The latest series of Call the Midwife has seen the introduction of new characters including nursing student Nancy, played by Megan Cusack, in one of her first TV roles.
A talent for performance seems to run in the family too, as her aunts and uncles are all huge acting stars too – whether that is in some of the UK’s most popular soaps, or in Hollywood films.
Megan’s aunt Niamh Cusack became a TV icon when she appeared in Heartbeat as Dr Kate Rowan in the nineties, while her aunts Sorcha and Catherine also played Helen Connor and Carmel Finnan respectively in ITV soap Coronation Street.
(Image: ExpressStar)
That’s not all, as her fourth aunt Sinead has been nominated for Tony and Olivier awards for her theatre work, and is also married to Hollywood actor Jeremy Irons who has starred in films including The Man In The Iron Mask and Disney’s The Lion King as Scar.
Her cousin Max Irons was also the star of films including The Riot Club and TV series The White Queen – now that’s what we call a talented family.
Vigil’s Rose Leslie and Game Of Thrones husband
(Image: BBC/World Productions)
Rose Leslie recently had viewers on the edge of their seats, after she starred in BBC drama Vigil as Detective Longacre, and the lover of DCI Amy Silva.
However many fans will know Rose from the global success of fantasy series Game Of Thrones and ITV historical period drama Downton Abbey too.
It was not only fame that Rose found on Game Of Thrones though, as she also met her future husband on set in the process.
(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Rose Leslie met Jon Snow actor Kit Harrington on set, with the couple going on to form a sweet off-screen romance, and later marrying in 2018.
Since the fantasy series ended, Kit Harington has also landed another fantasy and sci-fi role in Marvel’s Eternals, with post-credit scenes indicating that he could be playing the character of The Black Knight in future films.
He has also recently announced that he is due to appear in a theatre production of Henry V – as the acting power couple’s star continues to rise.
Call The Midwife Stephen McGann and his very famous brothers
(Image: WireImage)
Call The Midwife star Stephen McGann has played Dr. Patrick Turner on the BBC drama for over ten years since 2012, becoming one of the series’ biggest names.
The drama was also written by his wife Heidi Thomas, who he had previously met in Liverpool during the eighties, and said: “We started chatting about the character and by the time I left the room I was madly in love.”
He is just one of the huge stars from his family, as his three brothers are also talented performers too, and even starred in the 1993 film The Hanging Gale together.
(Image: ExpressStar)
Eldest brother Joe is fondly remembered as Charlie Burrows in comedy series The Upper Hand, along with In The Night And Day.
Meanwhile, Mark McGann is a talented actor, writer and director, running his own theatre company called Drama Direct Ltd, writing the award winning short film Perplexed Music and playing John Lennon in the 1982 film John and Yoko: A Love Story.
Their brother Paul is also famous for starring in 1987 film Withnail and I, alongside Richard E.Grant, as well as playing the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who and starring in TV series including The Monocled Mutineer.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
